State cracks down on selling alcohol to minors

The next time a teen asks to buy a beer, the person selling it would be advised to check identification first — it might just be an undercover agent checking whether the establishment is obeying the law.

The next time a teen asks to buy a beer, the person selling it would be advised to check identification first — it might just be an undercover agent checking whether the establishment is obeying the law.

Citing the arrival of college students home for the summer and numerous concerts and other outdoor entertainment events where alcohol is sold, the state Department of Consumer Protection Liquor Control Division warns it is stepping up enforcement of the ban on selling to people younger than 21.

The Liquor Control Division partners with local police departments in the state and sends underage volunteers that have been trained into liquor stores, bars, restaurants, convenience stores and any other places that have permits to sell alcohol.

Local liquor permit holders say they have no problem obeying the rules.

“We card everybody,” Shawn Marotte, manager of G Bar in Norwich. If bartenders are suspicious that an identification is a fake, they also can have the person sign an age statement form.

“This protects us,” Marotte said.

“We ID everybody,” said Mike Scalise, manager of Broadway Wine & Spirits in Colchester. He has handy behind the counter a book that shows photos of what different state driver’s licenses are supposed to look like.

“We get an ID guide every year,” Scalise said.

C.J. Knudsen, vice president and general manager of the Connecticut Tigers, said beer sellers at Dodd Stadium in Norwich are trained to ask for identification. They also undergo alcohol training called TIPS, designed to curb underage drinking and drunken driving.

“It’s not our main purpose to sell beer, it’s to provide family entertainment,” Knudsen said.

Marotte said underage people are often easy to spot simply because they’re not familiar with being in bars. When asked what drink they want, instead of naming it, they’ll ask what’s available.

For example, on April 13, 10 Windham County liquor stores, restaurants and clubs allegedly failed a compliance check for selling to minors.

After the alleged violation, the owner of the liquor permit must appear in front of the three-member Liquor Control Commission, which meets weekly in Hartford, Carveth said. A hearing is held and punishment is given out, which can be a fine, having the permit suspended, or both.

The Liquor Control Commission’s website lists punishments for seven of the establishments involved in the April 13 compliance check.

Jade Garden in Danielson was fined $750 and had its liquor license suspended for three days from July 8 through July 10.

Brooklyn Pizza also was fined $750 and will have its liquor license suspended three days from Tuesday through July 18.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2650 in Danielson was fined $750 and will have its license suspended three days from July 29 through July 31.

Page 2 of 2 - Thai Basil in Danielson was fined $800 and also faces a three-day suspension from July 29 through July 31.

Classic Pizza in Brooklyn was fined $900 and also faces a July 29 through July 31 suspension.

American Legion Post 67 in Thompson was fined $500 and will have its license suspended on Aug. 5.

The Raceway Restaurant in Thompson also was fined $500 and will have its license suspended on Sept. 23.

The hearing for Hank’s Restaurant in Brooklyn was held last week, manager Roland LaCharite said.

“We just kind of explained our situation,” he said. He said that during the check in April, the server did, in fact, check the identifications of the two underage women that came in but didn’t figure their ages correctly. “She just messed up on the dates.”

LaCharite said he’s waiting to hear what the penalty will be. “We’ve been here since 1971, never had a violation.”